Best of KC 2024: KC Current’s cultural currency as classy competitors earns their crowns

Photo by Tarik Sykes

Earlier this month, we published The Pitch’s annual Best of Kansas City issue. You can take a peek at the results of the readers’ poll here. The issue also included a list, compiled and written by our editorial staff, of some local people, places, and things that we thought clearly won 2024. We’ll be publishing these items online throughout November. 

After the year that the KC Current had, there was no other way to begin the Our Picks section than with our favorite local sports team. Cemented in a sparkling new stadium, the Current has reached beyond expectations, and now we are delivering their flowers. The last thing the world needed was another star-studded sports team for us to rave about. Ever since CPKC Stadium opened on March 16, the Current have unleashed hell on their opponents. Kicking off the season with 17 straight games without a loss, with a record of ten wins and five draws, it seemed like this team may never see an L marked on their box score.

And while that dream did unfortunately come to an end, the team holds a record of 14-7-3 as of this writing, reigning fourth in the National Women’s Soccer League standings. The amount of records that this team broke is incomprehensible—most goals scored at home in a single season at 32, most goal scorers in a single season with 50 totals goals coming from 18 different footballers, most goals scored through 14 games at 37, longest streak without a loss at 17 games, and went on to win the NWSL Summer Cup. Incredible.

This season’s team has been a powerhouse, to say the least, and credit must be given where credit is due—Temwa Chawinga is the best soccer player this city has ever seen. Nearly every single game, there are numerous highlight clips of her hauling ass down the field, squeezing past her opponents, and scoring with ease against the solo goalkeeper. Oh yeah, she broke a few records as well—longest goal-scoring streak at eight straight games, first player to ever score against every active NWSL team (13), and most goals scored in a single season, booting in 20 throughout the year, crowned the winner of the 2024 NWLS Golden Boot, and should be an easy shoe in for league MVP.

Chawinga and the team are an absolute delight to have near the Missouri riverfront. Now, having won their first game of the NWSL 2024 playoffs, they need the city’s support more than ever. And why wouldn’t we give it to em’? Kansas City natives should be proud to call this team their own, not just for their accomplishments this year, but for the fact that they have truly displayed their love for the city all year long. We don’t know about you, but you can find us at the first stadium built for professional women’s sports. KC Baby!